Manchester City are one of three teams still unbeaten after four games in the Barclays Premier League but City are the only side with a perfect record so far. City beat Watford 2-0 at the Etihad thanks to second half goals from Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho. They’ve now won 10 league games in a row and one more will equal Chelsea and Liverpool’s winning streaks of 11 matches. Manuel Pellegrini has also added to his squad with Kevin De Bruyne arriving from Wolfsburg for a club record fee of £54 million. It’s early days yet but the signs are ominous for the rest of the so called title contenders but we’ll find out more about City when they start in the Champions League.
Chelsea suffered their second defeat of the season and the reigning champions are already eight points behind City. Crystal Palace marked Jose Mourinho’s 100th Premier League game at home with a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge. Joel Ward was the unlikely match winner for Palace who are up to second place and they’ve won 8 from 10 away games under Alan Pardew. Chelsea look a little off the pace at the moment and are paying the price for starting pre season a bit later than usual. By the time Mourinho’s squad peak they may have too much ground to make up on City.
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal probably hates the sight of Swansea after a third 2-1 defeat in a row to the Welsh side who remain unbeaten. Juan Mata had put United ahead but for the third time this season Andre Ayew and Bafetimbi Gomis were both on target in the same game. It wasn’t a great afternoon for United keeper Sergio Romero and to make matters worse the David de Gea deal to Real Madrid is almost done. Adnan Januzaj has joined Borussia Dortmund on loan for the season but there is a big money signing coming to Old Trafford. Anthony Martial. Anthony who? Martial is a 19 year old striker that plays for Monaco but he only managed 8 league goals last season. United are prepared to fork out £36 million for the teenager who has been included in the French senior squad this week.
The result of the weekend probably came at Anfield where West Ham hadn’t won for 52 years. The Hammers beat Liverpool 3-0 to bring Brendan Rodgers and co down a peg or two. Manuel Lanzini scored the first and took advantage of some awful defending from Dejan Lovren to set up the second for Mark Noble who was later sent off. Liverpool also finished the game with 10 men so they’ll be without Philippe Coutinho for their trip to Old Trafford after the International break. Lose to Manchester United and Liverpool’s decent start will look pretty ordinary.
Arsenal are unbeaten in 10 league games against Newcastle after a 1-0 win at St. James’ Park. Theo Walcott was preferred to Olivier Giroud up front and Walcott missed an easy enough chance in the first half. Aleksandar Mitrovic was sent off in the first half and if you’ve watched him play this season it was hardly a surprise. Steve McClaren’s side showed plenty of fight but it was a Fabricio Coloccini own goal that separated the teams. The Gunners are yet to click but you know when they do someone is in for a hiding.
Leicester City are third and yet to taste defeat this season following a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth. Last week’s hat-trick hero Callum Wilson put the Cherries ahead with a superb overhead kick but Eddie Howe’s side were denied a second top flight win four minutes from time when Jamie Vardy smashed home a penalty.
Tottenham and Everton drew 0-0 which means Harry Kane is yet to score this season and the England International spurned a great chance in the first half at White Hart Lane. Tom Cleverly was stretchered off for the Toffees and after the game Roberto Martinez was adamant once again that John Stones will not be sold.
John O’Shea has started the last two games for Sunderland and the Black Cats have picked up a point in each. The latest was a 2-2 draw away to Aston Villa but Dick Advocaat’s side are bottom of the league. Scott Sinclair scored both Villa goals and Tim Sherwood limped off with a hamstring injury after the game. The Villa boss picked up the injury when he kicked a water bottle after Carles Gil was denied a penalty.
It was a happy return to the Britannia for Tony Pulis as his West Brom side moved off the bottom with a 1-0 win. Saloman Rondon got the winner for the Baggies but at that stage Stoke were down to nine men. Ibrahim Affelay and Charlie Adam were both shown straight red cards for the Potters in the first half.
Southampton picked up their first league win of the season with a 3-0 victory at home to Norwich City. Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill was there to watch Shane Long, Robbie Brady and Wes Hoolahan but Hoolahan was taken off for a defender when Steven Whittaker was sent off after half an hour. The Saints took full advantage with two second half goals from Dusan Tadic after Graziano Pelle opened the scoring on the stroke of half time.
